Gisela of Bavaria

  General Notes:

She lived a respectable life and helped Christianize the Hungarian people. After the death of her husband Stephen, she was forced to leave Hungary. She lived in the nunnery of Niedernburg in Passau, where she died. Her grave is a well-known holy place.

Her canonisation was attempted in the 18th century but failed. She was declared Blessed in 1975.

Her memorial days are May 7 and February 1.

Gisela and her husband were not buried together, and nearly a thousand years later on the weekend of May 4, 1996 their bodies as well as their spirits were reunited. They preserved the remains of King Stephen's right hand and it was brought back together with a bone taken from the arm of Gisela. Both are now safely protected in glass and gold cases and are now displayed in the basilica in the western town of Veszprem, where Gisela once lived.

Gisela married King Stephen of Hungary I, son of Grand Prince Géza of Hungary and Sarolt of Transylvania, in 995. (King Stephen of Hungary I was born about 975 and died on 15 Aug 1038.)